30 under 30: Fueling Industry with Sunlight--and Science with Collaboration

Each year hundreds of the best and brightest researchers gather in Lindau, Germany, for the Nobel Laureate Meeting. There, the newest generation of scientists mingles with Nobel Prize winners and discusses their work and ideas. The 2013 meeting is dedicated to chemistry and will involve young researchers from 78 different countries. In anticipation of the event, which will take place from June 30 through July 5, we are highlighting a group of attendees under 30 who represent the future of chemistry. The following profile is the 18th in a series of 30.

Current position: Postdoctoral researcher in the department of chemistry at the University of MilanEducation: A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a Master’s and PhD in chemical sciences, all from the University of Milan

What is your field of research?
My research interests are mainly focused on the development and chemical-physical characterization of efficient and sensitive photocatalysts for solar energy conversion and environmental applications.

What drew you to chemistry, and to that research area in particular?
Science represents an essential world fuel; our motivation, collaboration and experience can light this fuel and provide revolutionary advances in the health, happiness and safety of humankind. Personally, I have always felt a natural interest in the systematic way that science tackles problems. The opportunity to produce efficient materials or to discover new reaction mechanisms drives me to do chemistry every day.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope I still feel satisfied and enthusiastic about chemistry research. I would like to be well integrated in an international group of scientists and to assist the industrial application of our best discoveries.

Who are your scientific heroes?
A scientific hero is someone who never loses the ability to support, inspire and respect other people despite receiving honors and responsibility.If I had to choose a historical scientist, it would be the Italian chemist Giacomo Luigi Ciamician, who is considered a skilled scientific communicator, a great supporter of using chemistry to benefit society and the father of using solar energy for industry.

What activities outside of chemistry do you most enjoy?
In my free time, I like swimming and cycling under the sun! My passions are also reading books (mainly written by Japanese authors like Haruki Murakami) and eating a lot of sushi!

What do you hope to gain from this year’s Lindau meeting?
I hope that participating in the 63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings will be a great opportunity for learning and sharing experiences with Nobel laureates and international researchers. I hope to attend fruitful seminars and discussions about the future of chemistry. Sharing ideas and experiences among different cultures and generations is a basic requirement for scientific growth.

Are there any Nobelists whom you are particularly excited to meet?
I am personally excited to meet all of them and to learn lessons—both personal and scientific—inherent to the unique stories of each Nobel laureate. I would like to meet Akira Suzuki because I remember the importance of his work even though I am not an organic chemist. He spent a major part of his career at the Hokkaido University in Sapporo, where I stayed for several months during my PhD study. Though I come from the other side of the world, I feel I have this connection and would enjoy the opportunity to feel relatively “closer” to him.